Ever since its founding more than 25 years ago, Hispanic Federation has focused on strengthening the Latino nonprofit sector. That includes building agency leadership, improving transparency and administrative structures, and, just as importantly providing financial support for critical needs. The Latino CORE Initiative is Hispanic Federation’s most important grant making program and focuses on providing support for organizations most urgent and, at times, most difficult to fund needs. In the past, our grants have helped organizations make capital improvements that make their facilities ADA-compliant or have provided funding for improved auditing services to make sure that agency financial systems are strong. These needs are important to our network and often fall well outside the giving priorities of corporate and private philanthropies.
Earlier this month, Hispanic Federation’s Board of Directors approved $332,000 in grants for 20 Latino health and human services agencies across the country. Some of the grant recipients include Bridgeport Caribe Youth Leaders ($20,000 support the agency’s technological improvements/upgrades); LatinoJustice PRLDEF ($25,000 to support the agency’s Southeast expansion and capital campaign); and National Latina Institute for Reproductive Health ($20,000 to support the agency’s overhaul of IT infrastructure).
“We know that the environment for philanthropic dollars is incredibly competitive,” said Hispanic Federation President José Calderón. “That’s why with each passing year the investments we make through the CORE program become even more important. Our network knows that we are here to support the critical needs they have, even if those needs aren’t especially priorities to other grant-makers."
In addition to the grant recipients mentioned above, CORE grants were awarded to: Aid For AIDS, Caribbean Cultural Center African Diaspora Institute, Casita Maria Center for Arts and Education, Circulo de la Hispanidad, Committee for Hispanic Children and Families, Community Resource Center, Dominican Women’s Development Center, Exodus Transitional Community, Inc., Hispanic Counseling Center, Inc., Hispanic Health Council, Latino Commission on AIDS, Masa-Mex Ed, and People's Theatre Project.
